From January 14 to 25 I will be counting down the ten new acts I expect big things from in 2008. As always, its tough to predict just who will break through and who will fade into obscurity once the year ends, but really, the point of this exercise is to get you pumped about the artists Im pumped about. Enjoy reading, and dont hesitate to point out how right or wrong I was to us when 2009 comes around.
DFAs next big act is the curiously named Hercules and Love Affair, which is essentially the work of DJ/producer Andrew Butler. (And yeah, Im calling it right now that he has the ability and the tunes to become the labels second flagship act, after, y'know, the boss man himself and Im not just talking about with the folks who actually buy the twelve-inches.) Schooled in every kind of disco, from the leftist experimentations of Dinosaur L, the roboto Italo slickness of Giorgio Moroder and the commercial draw of Chic, Butler doesnt even stop there, as the titular "Hercules Theme demonstrates, moving even further back in time to the hot-steppin days of early 70s Philly funk. But Hercules and Love Affair have a secret weapon that I expect to be talked about through most of 2008: its called "Blind and it features the gifted songbird we know simply as Antony. Not the first collaboration weve heard in recent time from the Mercury Prize-winning leader of the Johnsons (hes also joined Björk, Joan As Police Woman, Rufus Wainwright and CocoRosie), "Blind shows the breadth of Antonys voice, which to many is still an instrument of complete bewilderment. On top of a smashingly good palette of stretchy disco a pretty standard rhythm elevated by slinky horns and burping synths Antony becomes Butlers diva, moving along like the best sirens heard in the Paradise Garage. Its a track that will no doubt help Hercules and Love Affair when their debut LP (co-produced by the DFA's Tim Goldsworthy) drops in the coming months, but also gives Antony more options in what he can do with his own music (read: dude needs to front more disco tracks!).
Hercules and Love Affair feat. Antony Hegarty "Blind
Hercules and Love Affair "Hercules Theme
DFAs next big act is the curiously named Hercules and Love Affair, which is essentially the work of DJ/producer Andrew Butler. (And yeah, Im calling it right now that he has the ability and the tunes to become the labels second flagship act, after, y'know, the boss man himself and Im not just talking about with the folks who actually buy the twelve-inches.) Schooled in every kind of disco, from the leftist experimentations of Dinosaur L, the roboto Italo slickness of Giorgio Moroder and the commercial draw of Chic, Butler doesnt even stop there, as the titular "Hercules Theme demonstrates, moving even further back in time to the hot-steppin days of early 70s Philly funk. But Hercules and Love Affair have a secret weapon that I expect to be talked about through most of 2008: its called "Blind and it features the gifted songbird we know simply as Antony. Not the first collaboration weve heard in recent time from the Mercury Prize-winning leader of the Johnsons (hes also joined Björk, Joan As Police Woman, Rufus Wainwright and CocoRosie), "Blind shows the breadth of Antonys voice, which to many is still an instrument of complete bewilderment. On top of a smashingly good palette of stretchy disco a pretty standard rhythm elevated by slinky horns and burping synths Antony becomes Butlers diva, moving along like the best sirens heard in the Paradise Garage. Its a track that will no doubt help Hercules and Love Affair when their debut LP (co-produced by the DFA's Tim Goldsworthy) drops in the coming months, but also gives Antony more options in what he can do with his own music (read: dude needs to front more disco tracks!).
Hercules and Love Affair feat. Antony Hegarty "Blind
Hercules and Love Affair "Hercules Theme